Method and a system for transferring of items

ABSTRACT

Method and system for transferring items ( 2 ) from an inlet flow or a bulk of items at a first area to a second area, from which the items are transferred in an orderly flow of items,
         whereby a plurality of gripping means ( 18 ) are used for transferring said items and   whereby said method comprises the steps of   moving at least one of said plurality of gripping means ( 18 ) towards at least part of said first area or vice versa,   engaging one of said items by said at least one of said plurality of gripping means ( 18 ),   moving said engaged item away from said first area, or vice versa,   placing said engaged item at a selected position, and whereby   said item is moved away from said second area in an orderly flow with at least one further item handled by another of said plurality of gripping means.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for transferring of items individuallyfrom an inlet flow or a bulk of items at a first location to a secondlocation, said method comprising the step of delivering the items in anorderly form at the second location.

The invention also relates to a system for transferring of itemsindividually from an inlet flow or a bulk of items at a first locationto a second location, said system being adapted for delivering the itemsin an orderly form at the second location.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In connection with transport, handling, processing etc. of various itemsincluding food items such as pieces of meat, fish, pieces of poultryetc., it is desired to be able to grip and move or transport such piecesfurther on one by one. In particular this will be the case when suchitems are delivered in an un-orderly form, possibly with a plurality ofitems being accumulated or piled up, and similarly, when it is ofimportance, for example in consideration of a further processing of theitems, that the items are transported further on with a certain minimumdistance between the items.

It is known to use various forms of vacuum transport devices in suchinstances.

Such devices are disclosed for example in EP 619249 A1, EP 1021361 B, NL9102028 og WO 2005/035405 A1. These prior art devices all have anexternal suction pump or the like, from which vacuum is led to thedevices. Such vacuum devices require frequent cleaning, when used fortransporting food stuff or the like, which may be troublesome and maydemand considerable resources, if a satisfactory result is to beachieved.

Further, these prior art devices are characterized in having the liftingmeans arranged in a static configuration. EP 619249 A1 and EP 1021361 Bdescribe the lifting means being mounted in a horizontal wheelconfiguration, meaning that the individual lifting means are movedcircularly in a horizontal plane. NL 9102028 and WO 2005/035405 A1describe the lifting means being mounted in a drum- or wheel-shapedarrangement, which on its surface is provided with suction holes, bymeans of which items may be gripped and moved one by one.

Furthermore, various mechanisms are used at these prior art devices inorder to ensure that vacuum is connected at the right time and thatvacuum is disconnected at the right time in order to release the items.Such mechanisms may add to the complexity of the design and mayfurthermore hinder or make an efficient cleaning difficult.

Furthermore, vacuum devices are known, which are used for liftingindividual items without using external vacuum sources.

For example, EP 1 484 142 A1 describes a vacuum lifting device, where apiston can be moved downwards in a cylinder by means of compressed airand where the piston can be moved upwards by means of a spring. Thecylinder has at its lower end a channel, which leads to a suction disc.This prior art lifting device is used by removing the pressure, i.e. thecompressed air, whereby the spring will lift the piston upwards, thusresulting in a vacuum being produced in the cylinder, whereby an itemsuch as an optical lens can be withheld to the suction disc.

A similar lifting device is known from EP 1 477 439 A1, where, though,the piston can also be forced downwards against the spring force bymeans of an electromagnet.

Both of these prior art lifting devices are adapted for lifting solid,mechanical stable items and thus a predetermined piston stroke is usedin order to produce a vacuum having a predetermined value. Furthermore,both of these devices are designed in such a manner that apparentlythere is no possibility of separating cylinder and piston, meaning thatit is not an option to use such devices for applications, where thehygienic condition has to be considered.

It is a further common characteristic for the abovementioned prior artdevices that the number of items that may be gripped and moved, islimited, thus meaning that these prior art devices are insufficient whenit is desired to move a plurality of items with a desired velocity,corresponding to the velocity, by which such items are transported infor example the field of foodstuff processing.

Still further, devices are known for moving a relatively large number ofitems simultaneously, for example glass items or the like, which inadvance have been placed in an orderly form, for example placed in oneor more rows, where a shared carrier has a corresponding large number ofsuction means arranged in a corresponding manner, and where the suctionmeans all are connected to a shared vacuum source. It is obvious thatsuch a device is not suitable for moving items individually, but formoving a relatively large number of items simultaneously, which itemshave to be placed in an orderly form in advance. Furthermore, the deviceis not designed to be able to deliver the items at different points intime, since the items are released all at the same time.

Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a method and a systemfor transferring items individually, which provide an improvement inrelation to the prior art and without the abovementioned drawbacks.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide such a methodand such a system for gripping items one by one from an un-orderly flowor bulk and moving these to another flow, where the items are delivered.A particular object is to provide such a method and such a system, wherevacuum is used for lifting the items. A further particular object is toprovide such a method and such a system where the use of an externalvacuum source may be avoided.

A still further object is to provide such a method and such a system,which are flexible.

Another object is to provide such a method and such a system, by meansof which an enhanced capacity may be achieved in relation to the priorart, and by means of which a transfer speed may be achievedcorresponding to the process speed currently used in the field of foodprocessing, even when a large number of items are handled, thusachieving that such a method and such a system may efficiently be usedin such applications and that the method and the system may readily beadapted for handling the number of items that are actually being fed.

A still further object is to provide such a method and such a system,where cleaning may expediently and efficiently be taken care of.

It is also an object to provide such a method and such a system, whichis designed for use in connection with items, e.g. food items or thelike, which not necessarily are provided with a stable or firm formand/or structure.

These and other objects are achieved by the invention as it will beexplained in the following.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method of transferring items from an inletflow or a bulk of items at a first area to a second area, from which theitems are transferred in an orderly flow of items,

-   -   whereby a plurality of gripping means are used for transferring        said items and    -   whereby said method comprises the steps of    -   moving at least one of said plurality of gripping means towards        at least part of said first area or vice versa,    -   engaging one of said items by said at least one of said        plurality of gripping means,    -   moving said engaged item away from said first area, or vice        versa,    -   placing said engaged item at a selected position, and whereby    -   said item is moved away from said second area in an orderly flow        with at least one further item handled by another of said        plurality of gripping means.

Hereby, it is achieved that the items can be transferred to the secondarea in a flexible manner, in particular since the items can be placedwithin the second area for example in consideration of items thatalready have been placed or in consideration of one or more items thatessentially simultaneously is/are being transferred by means of anothergripping means. Thus, in addition to the enhanced flexibility, thetransference speed, i.e. the speed with which a certain number of itemscan be transferred with, can be increased in this manner, since the useof a plurality of gripping means is facilitated while simultaneouslyensuring that the items can be placed at the second area in the desiredmanner, for example with a desired minimum distance to each other, andthus that the items can transported further on in an orderly flow in thedesired manner.

Preferably, as specified in claim 2, said step of placing said engageditem at a selected position may comprise releasing said engaged itemfrom said at least one of said plurality of gripping means.

Hereby, the item can be placed in an expedient manner.

Further, as specified in claim 3, said engaged item may be released atsaid selected position, whereby the item is placed at the desiredposition in a particular expedient manner.

Advantageously, as specified in claim 4, said engaged item may bereleased from said at least one of said plurality of gripping means andsubsequently placed at said selected position using further means,whereby the item can be placed at the selected position in an expedientmanner, for example in cases, where the gripping means is of a type,where the item is not automatically e.g. dropped when it is released. Insuch a case further means such as e.g. a rod or the like may be used forplacing the item.

Preferably, as specified in claim 5, said engaged item may be releasedand/or placed at a selected position at said second area.

According to an alternative embodiment, a specified in claim 6, saidengaged item may be released and/or placed at a selected position atintermediate means and transferred to said second area in a subsequentstep, and preferably, as specified in claim 7, said item may betransferred to said second area in said subsequent step together withother released and/or placed items.

Hereby, it is achieved that the items can be released from the grippingmeans and placed in an orderly form without having to take into accountthe fact that e.g. a conveyor belt, on which the second area is located,is moving. When the items subsequently are moved from the intermediatemeans to e.g. the conveyor belt, this may be done in a manner ensuringthat the orderly form in which the items are placed, are not distortedor destroyed. The intermediate means may for example be a platform, acarriage or the like, which may be pushed under the items engaged by thegripping means immediately before the items(s) is(are) released, or thegripping means may be relocated to be placed above such intermediatemeans before the items(s) is(are) released. Other manners of arrangingthe interrelated movements are possible, which will be apparent to askilled person.

According to a preferred embodiment as specified in claim 8, said stepof releasing and/or placing said engaged item at a selected position maycomprise locating said item at a position selected among a number ofpredetermined positions.

Hereby, it is achieved that the items are placed at the second area inthe desired mutual relationship in an expedient manner, for example whena plurality of positions are defined in advance, thereby facilitating arelatively uncomplicated control procedure for the involved plurality ofgripping means. It is noted that the predetermined positions may bepositions determined in relation to the boundaries of the operative areafor the gripping means, i.e. the area, within which the gripping meansmay operate in combination, or the positions may be determined inrelation to the second area itself, if these differ.

According to another preferred embodiment as specified in claim 9, saidstep of releasing and/or placing said engaged item at a selectedposition may comprise locating said item at a position selected inrelation to already located items and/or in relation to positions forother items being transferred.

Hereby, it is achieved that the items are placed at the second area inthe desired mutual relationship in an expedient manner and wherebyfurther flexibility is added, since the items may be placed inaccordance with a dynamic control procedure, for example taking intoconsideration control parameters or signals relating to other grippingmeans that have released items previously or that will release itemsafter the concerned gripping means.

Advantageously, as specified in claim 10, said plurality of grippingmeans may be controlled by central control means, thus providing e.g. anoverall control of the plurality of gripping means and whereby thecontrol may take into consideration parameters already available at thecentral control, such as conveyor belt speed(s), item feeding capacity,control signals and parameters relating to the individual grippingmeans, etc.

Preferably, as specified in claim 11, said plurality of gripping meansmay be adapted for, each or in combination, controllably locating itemsat a predefined area constituting said second area.

Hereby, further flexibility in designing and arranging the method and/ora system operating in accordance with the invention is achieved sincethe gripping means may be adapted in various manners. For example, itwill not be necessary to use a gripping means being able to reach overthe entire area of the second area as long as the gripping means arearranged to be able in total to deliver items to this area. Thus, themethod and the system may be operative using relatively inexpensivegripping means while still providing a method and a system being fullycapable of meeting the demands of the user.

According to an expedient embodiment, as specified in claim 12, said atleast one of said plurality of gripping means being moved towards saidfirst area, or vice versa, may be adapted for engaging an item locatedwithin a predefined area constituting said first area.

Hereby, a further advantage is achieved since the demands as regards theaccuracy of the gripping means when engaging an item is lessened andfurther since the pick-up speed of the plurality of gripping means incombination is increased considerably, as a plurality of gripping meansmay engage items simultaneously at the first area thereby alsofacilitating an enhanced operational speed.

According to an advantageous embodiment as specified in claim 13, saidplurality of gripping means may engage and hold said items by suction,e.g. during application of vacuum.

Hereby, it is achieved that said gripping means may operate in a mannerwhereby items may be engaged in a straightforward manner, for example bymoving the gripping means down towards the items until the suctionopening meets an item, where after the item will automatically bewithheld by the gripping means. Thus, it may not be necessary to movethe gripping means towards a specific item, and in particular when theitems and the gripping means are moving in relation to each other, anitem will eventually contact the gripping means, thus again meaning thatno particular steps need to be taken in order to grip an item using asuction gripping means. Furthermore, when using vacuum for grippingitems, no special requirements are necessary for gripping the items,even when the items are characteristically shaped, e.g. oblong, whichotherwise might cause difficulties with other types of gripping means,for example gripping means that grip around the items.

According to another advantageous embodiment as specified in claim 14,said plurality of gripping means may engage and hold said items bymechanical means, e.g. mechanical lifting, mechanical gripping, pinchingor the like.

Hereby, it is achieved that further additional advantages may beachieved and that in various applications a more cost-efficient set-upmay be achieved, since suction pumps, tube connections, valve controlsetc. may be avoided. Further, since the use of mechanical means mayrequire the use of detection means, e.g. a vision system or the like inorder to detect the actual location of the items, this may further betaken advantage of for example in order to detect the orientation of theitems which may increase the accuracy with which the items are gripped,but further allows the items to be placed at the second location with adesired orientation, e.g. by turning the gripping means correspondinglybefore releasing the items.

According to a further advantageous embodiment as specified in claim 15,said items may be delivered to said first area by transport means, forexample a conveyor belt, and whereby said items are moving at said firstarea.

Hereby, the items will be delivered to the first area in an efficientand relatively simple manner and further it is achieved that the itemswill readily be moved across the first area, whereby the contact betweenthe gripping means and the items may be effected in a simple manner,thus meaning that for example a suction gripping means need only belowered to a predefined level above the conveyor belt, where it canremain until it contacts an item, which eventually will happen. It willbe understood, though, that the gripping means may be moving as well,both in the vertical as well as in the horizontal direction whilewaiting for e.g. a contact with an item to happen.

According to a particular advantageous embodiment as specified in claim16, an item that is not engaged by one of said plurality of grippingmeans when passing said first area, may be returned to said transportmeans that delivers items to said first area.

Hereby, an increased efficiency and handling speed may be achieved,since it will not be necessary to arrange the method in order to achievethat all items have been gripped at the end of the first area, whichotherwise might have the effect that conveyor speed would be kept belowa conservative limit, the number of gripping means would have to berelatively high, etc. which would give a slow and expensive processmethod, all due to the need to ensure that all items would be gripped.When providing for a recirculation, the process features can beoptimized in order to enhance speed and reduce the costs.

Expediently, as specified in claim 17, said items may be moved at saidfirst location by transport means forming part of a transport loop.

Hereby, a recirculation of the items not gripped can be arranged in arelatively simple and cost-efficient manner, e.g. using readilyavailable transport means, conveyor belts etc.

Advantageously, as specified in claim 18, said items delivered to saidsecond area may be transported further on by means of transport meanssuch as a conveyor belt.

Hereby, the items placed at the second location in the orderly form mayexpediently be transported further on for processing, further handlingetc.

According to a further advantageous embodiment as specified in claim 19,said items being delivered to said second area may be delivered directlyto said transport means for further transport, e.g. a conveyor belt.

Hereby, a particular simple manner of providing a further transport ofthe items is achieved, while simultaneously providing a means, on whichsaid second area can be defined.

The invention further relates to a system for transferring items from aninlet flow or a bulk of items at a first area to a second area, saidsystem being adapted for transferring an orderly flow of items from saidsecond area, said system comprising

-   -   a plurality of gripping means adapted for transferring said        items,    -   first location means for supporting items at said first area and    -   second location means for supporting items at said second area,        wherein the system is adapted for    -   moving at least one of said plurality of gripping means towards        at least part of said first area or vice versa,    -   engaging one of said items by said at least one of said        plurality of gripping means,    -   moving said engaged item away from said first area, or vice        versa,    -   placing said engaged item at a selected position, and whereby    -   said item is moved away from said second area in an orderly flow        with at least one further item handled by another of said        plurality of gripping means.

Hereby, it is achieved that the items can be transferred to the secondarea in a flexible manner, in particular since the items can be placedwithin the second area for example in consideration of items thatalready have been placed or in consideration of one or more items thatessentially simultaneously is/are being transferred by means of anothergripping means. Thus, in addition to the enhanced flexibility, thetransference speed, i.e. the speed with which a certain number of itemscan be transferred, may be increased in this manner, since the use of aplurality of gripping means is facilitated while simultaneously ensuringthat the items can be placed at the second area in the desired manner,for example with a desired minimum distance to each other, and thus thatthe items can be transported further on in the second flow in thedesired manner.

Preferably, as specified in claim 21, said system may be adapted forreleasing said engaged item from said at least one of said plurality ofgripping means when placing said engaged item at a selected position.

Hereby, the item can be placed in an expedient manner.

Further, as specified in claim 22, said at least one of said pluralityof gripping means may be adapted for releasing said engaged item at saidselected position, whereby the item is placed directly at the desiredposition in a particular expedient manner.

Advantageously, as specified in claim 23, said system may comprisefurther means for placing said engaged item at said selected position,when it has been released from said at least one of said plurality ofgripping means. Hereby, the item can be placed at the selected positionin an expedient manner, for example in cases, where the gripping meansis of a type, where the item is not automatically e.g. dropped when itis released. In such a case further means such as e.g. a rod or the likemay be used for placing the item.

Preferably, as specified in claim 24, said system may be adapted forreleasing and/or placing said engaged item at a selected position atsaid second area.

According to an alternative embodiment, a specified in claim 25, saidsystem may be adapted for releasing and/or placing said engaged item atintermediate means and for transferring said item to said second area ina subsequent step, and preferably, as specified in claim 26, saidintermediate means may be adapted for supporting a plurality of items.

Hereby, it is achieved that the items can be released from the grippingmeans and placed in an orderly form without having to take into accountthe fact that e.g. a conveyor belt, on which the second area is located,is moving. When the items subsequently are moved from the intermediatemeans to e.g. the conveyor belt, this may be done in a manner ensuringthat the orderly form in which the items are placed, are not distortedor destroyed. The intermediate means may for example be a platform, acarriage or the like, which may be pushed under the items engaged by thegripping means immediately before the items(s) is(are) released, or thegripping means may be relocated to be placed above such intermediatemeans before the items(s) is(are) released. Other manners of arrangingthe interrelated movements are possible, which will be apparent to askilled person.

Preferably, as specified in claim 27, said system may comprise means fortransferring said plurality of items from said intermediate means tosaid second area.

According to a preferred embodiment as specified in claim 28, saidsecond area at said second location means may comprise a number ofpredetermined positions and wherein said at least one of said pluralityof gripping means may be adapted for selectively releasing said engageditem at said second area at a selected position among said number ofpredetermined positions.

Hereby, it is achieved that the items are placed at the second area inthe desired mutual relationship in an expedient manner, for example whena plurality of positions are defined in advance, thereby facilitating arelatively uncomplicated control procedure for the involved plurality ofgripping means. It is noted that the predetermined positions may bepositions determined in relation to the boundaries of the operative areafor the gripping means, i.e. the area, within which the gripping meansmay operate in combination, or the positions may be determined inrelation to the second location itself, if these differ.

According to another preferred embodiment as specified in claim 29, saidat least one of said plurality of gripping means may be adapted forselectively releasing said engaged item at said second area at aposition selected in relation to items already located at said secondarea and/or in relation to positions for other items being transferred.

Hereby, it is achieved that the items are placed at the second area inthe desired mutual relationship in an expedient manner and wherebyfurther flexibility is added, since the items may be placed inaccordance with a dynamic control procedure, for example taking intoconsideration control parameters or signals relating to other grippingmeans that have released items previously or that will release itemsafter the concerned gripping means.

Advantageously, as specified in claim 30, said system may comprisecentral control means for controlling said plurality of gripping means,thus providing e.g. an overall control of the plurality of grippingmeans and whereby the control may take into consideration parametersalready available at the central control, such as conveyor beltspeed(s), item feeding capacity, etc.

Preferably, as specified in claim 31, said plurality of gripping meansmay be adapted for, each or in combination, controllably locating itemsat a predefined area constituting said second area at said secondlocation means.

Hereby, further flexibility in designing and arranging the systemoperating in accordance with the invention is achieved since thegripping means may be adapted in various manners. For example, it willnot be necessary to use a gripping means being able to reach over theentire area of the second area as long as the gripping means arearranged to be able in total to deliver items to this area. Thus, themethod and the system may be operative using relatively inexpensivegripping means while still providing a method and a system being fullycapable of meeting the demands of the user.

According to a further preferable embodiment, as specified in claim 32,a predefined area at said first location means may constitute said firstarea, and wherein said at least one of said plurality of gripping meansmay be adapted for engaging an item located within said predefined areaat said first location means.

Hereby, a further advantage is achieved since the demands as regards theaccuracy of the gripping means when engaging an item is lessened andfurther since the pick-up speed of the plurality of gripping means incombination is increased considerably, as a plurality of gripping meansmay engage items simultaneously at the first area thereby alsofacilitating an enhanced operational speed.

Advantageously, as specified in claim 33, said plurality of grippingmeans may comprise suction means for engaging and holding said items.

Hereby, it is achieved that said gripping means may operate in a mannerwhereby items may be engaged in a straightforward manner, for example bymoving the gripping means down towards the items until the suctionopening meets an item, where after the item will automatically bewithheld by the gripping means. Thus, it may not be necessary to movethe gripping means towards a specific item, and in particular when theitems and the gripping means are moving in relation to each other, anitem will eventually contact the gripping means, thus again meaning thatno particular steps need to be taken in order to grip an item using asuction gripping means. Furthermore, when using vacuum for grippingitems, no special requirements are necessary for gripping the items,even when the items are characteristically shaped, e.g. oblong, whichotherwise might cause difficulties with other types of gripping means,for example gripping means that grip around the items.

According to a particular preferable embodiment, as specified in claim34, said suction means may comprise a vacuum source placed locally, e.g.in or at least one of said plurality of gripping means.

Hereby, it is achieved that it will not be necessary to have arelatively large number of tubes, pipe connections, valves and valvecontrol means etc. situated at the system with the disadvantages thatthis might give such as reduced movability, increased need for cleaningetc

Advantageously, as specified in claim 35, said suction means maycomprise a vacuum source connected to at least a plurality of saidplurality of gripping means. Hereby, for example a single suction pumpmay be arranged in the system for providing the necessary vacuum, whichthus may be provided in a reliable manner.

According to a further preferable embodiment, as specified in claim 36,said plurality of gripping means may be adapted for engaging and holdingsaid items by mechanical means, e.g. by mechanical lifting, mechanicalgripping, pinching or the like.

Hereby, it is achieved that further additional advantages may beachieved and that in various applications a more cost-efficient set-upmay be achieved since suction pumps, tube connections, valve controlsetc. may be avoided. Further, since the use of mechanical means mayrequire the use of detection means, e.g. a vision system or the like inorder to detect the actual location of the items, this may further betaken advantage of, for example in order to detect the orientation ofthe items which may increase the accuracy with which the items aregripped, but further allows the items to be placed at the secondlocation with a desired orientation, e.g. by turning the gripping meanscorrespondingly before releasing the items.

Advantageously, as specified in claim 37, said first location means mayform part of inlet transport means, for example a conveyor belt, fordelivering items to said first area, i.e. with said items being moved atsaid first area.

Hereby, the items will be delivered to the first area in an efficientand relatively simple manner and further it is achieved that the itemswill readily be moved across the first area, whereby the contact betweenthe gripping means and the items may be effected in a simple manner,thus meaning that for example a suction gripping means need only belowered to a predefined level above the conveyor belt, where it canremain until it contacts an item, which eventually will happen. It willbe understood, though, that the gripping means may be moving as well,both in the vertical as well as in the horizontal direction whilewaiting for e.g. a contact with an item to happen.

According to a particular preferable embodiment, as specified in claim38, said system may comprise means for returning items that have notbeen engaged by one of said plurality of gripping means when passingsaid first area, to said inlet transport means, e.g. said first locationmeans.

Hereby, an increased efficiency and handling speed may be achieved,since it will not be necessary to arrange the method in order to achievethat all items have been gripped at the end of the first area, whichotherwise might have the effect that conveyor speed would be kept belowa conservative limit, the number of gripping means would have to berelatively high, etc. which would give a relatively slow and relativelyexpensive process method, all due to the need to ensure that all itemswould be gripped. When providing for a recirculation, the processfeatures can be optimized in order to enhance speed and reduce thecosts.

Preferably, as specified in claim 39, said first location means maycomprise transport means forming part of a transport loop.

Hereby, a recirculation of the items not gripped can be arranged in arelatively simple and cost-efficient manner, e.g. using readilyavailable transport means, conveyor belts, etc.

Advantageously, as specified in claim 40, said transport means formingpart of a transport loop may comprise a continuous conveyor belt, acircular conveyor belt, a rotating conveyor, a turntable or the like.

According to a still further embodiment, as specified in claim 41, saidsystem may comprise outlet transport means such as an outlet conveyorbelt for transporting said transferred items further on from said secondlocation.

Hereby, the items placed at the second location in the orderly form maybe transported further on for processing, further handling etc.

According to a further preferable embodiment, as specified in claim 42,said second location means for supporting items at said second area mayform part of outlet transport means such as an outlet conveyor belt.

Hereby, a particular simple manner of providing a further transport ofthe items is achieved, while simultaneously providing a means, on whichsaid second area can be defined.

Advantageously, as specified in claim 43, at least two of said pluralityof gripping means may be arranged on a gripping carrier.

Hereby, a number of further options may be provided, for example using ashared source, e.g. vacuum source for two or more gripping means, usinga shared control system or the like and further the option of releasingthe items in an already orderly form defined by the structure of thegripping carrier.

Preferably, as specified in claim 44, said system may comprise aplurality of said gripping carriers, each carrying at least one of saidplurality of gripping means. Hereby, a further advantageous embodimentis provided, having an increased capacity.

Still further, as specified in claim 45, said plurality of grippingmeans may be independently controllable.

Hereby, further flexibility is achieved.

THE FIGURES

The invention will be explained in further detail below with referenceto the figures of which

FIG. 1 illustrates the use of the method and the system according to anembodiment of the invention for transferring items from one conveyorbelt to another,

FIG. 2 illustrates correspondingly the use of the method and the systemaccording to another embodiment of the invention for transferring itemsfrom one conveyor belt to another, on which the items are arranged in aplurality of rows,

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement corresponding to FIG. 1, but showing adesign according to a further embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 4 shows an arrangement corresponding to FIG. 2, but showing adesign according to a further embodiment of the invention,

FIGS. 5 a-5 d show in side views various embodiments of gripping meansaccording to the invention,

FIG. 6 shows in a perspective and partly sectional view a still furtherembodiment of a gripping carrier according to the invention,

FIGS. 7 a-7 h show sequential steps performed by the embodiment shown inFIG. 6,

FIGS. 8 a-8 d show side views of various configurations of a transferdevice in accordance with the invention,

FIGS. 9 and 10 show in sectional views details of a suction deviceaccording to different embodiments of the invention, and

FIGS. 11 and 12 show further embodiments of the layout of the transportmeans including e.g. feeding and outlet conveyors in accordance with theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows seen from above and in a schematic form a conveyor belt 4,by means of which items 2, for example food items such as pieces ofmeat, e.g. pieces of meat from beeves or calves, lamb, poultry, fish, orother items, such as it will be apparent to a skilled person, aretransported in an un-orderly flow such as illustrated. As shown, theindividual items 2 can be placed differently in the transverse directionof the conveyor belt and the items can also be placed with differentmutual distances, including different mutual distances in the transportdirection. The items 2 can even be placed in such a manner that they areoverlapping each other or lying on top of each other. Furthermore, theindividual items 2 can be placed on the conveyor belt without beingorientated in a homogenous manner. This is even more the case, if theitems are distinctly shaped, for example having an oblong or oval form.

In an operative area 8 for the invention, which will be described infurther detail in the following, the individual items 2 are moved fromthe conveyor 4 by means of a gripping means and transferred to e.g.another conveyor belt 10 as shown, where the individual items arereleased on the conveyor belt. The gripping means may for example grip,catch, engage, pinch, grasp, seize, hold or in an analogous manner gripand hold the individual items. In the following this will be referred toin general with the terms “grip” or “engage”, but it will be understoodthat these terms not will limit the manner in which items in accordancewith the invention may be contacted or engaged and held until releasedby means of the gripping means in connection with the present invention.As it is shown in FIG. 1 the individual items can be gripped within acertain extent 4′ of the conveyor belt, meaning that the items 2 are notnecessarily gripped as they enter the area 4′ and not necessarily in theorder in which they enter the operative area 8, lying on the conveyorbelt 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the individual items may be transporteduntil near the end of the operative area, before they are engaged bygripping means, controlled by a general control system. Similarly, theitems 2 can be released on different places or positions of the otherconveyor belt 10 within an extent 10′, again controlled by a generalcontrol system, and whereby it is achieved that the individual items 2are transported on the conveyor belt 10 in an orderly form. Such anorderly form may for example be a form with a predefined mutualdistance, e.g. an equidistant placing of the items, with the itemsplaced in a predefined pattern, with a specified location in relation tothe transverse direction of the belt and/or a placing of the items witha specific orientation.

It is noted that the two belts 2 and 10 may have different speeds, forexample with the conveyor belt 10 being driven at a considerably higherspeed in order to be able to transport the number of items that is beingled to the operative area 8 by the conveyor belt 2. Hereby, a desiredminimum distance between items 2 on the belt 10 can also be achieved,even when the items 2 are released in fast sequence, e.g. with arelatively small distance in time and at essentially the same location,since the conveyor belt 10 will be moved a certain distance during thisperiod of time.

Furthermore, it is shown in FIG. 1 that means 46 for returning items 2that has not been gripped when they reach the end of the extent 4′ maybe provided. Such means 46 may for example as shown with dash-lines be aconveyor that is placed in extension of the conveyor belt 4 and whichforms a loop returning possible items to the conveyor belt 4 again priorto the operative area 8. Other means of achieving such functionality maybe used, which will be apparent to a skilled person.

In FIG. 2 a similar arrangement is shown, but where it is shown that inaccordance with the invention items 2 can be transferred to a conveyorbelt 10 in such a manner that the orderly form of the items 2 on thebelt 10 also may comprise a placing of the items in a number of parallelrows as indicated by the items 2 a, 2 b and 2 c. Possibly, the items 2may also be placed at least substantially in alignment with each otherin the transverse direction of the belt 10 as shown in FIG. 2. It willbe understood that in connection with such an embodiment, the operativearea 8 relating to the belt 10, i.e. the extent or area 10′, will alsoextend in the transverse direction of the conveyor belt 10. Items 2 maythus be released on different positions in the transport direction ofthe belt 10 as well as on different positions in the transversedirection, controlled by a control system, and in such a manner that adesired order or pattern of the items is achieved when the items leavethe operative area 8. As illustrated in FIG. 2 such an arrangement mayfor example be used when feeding items 2 to a freezing machine 12, e.g.a quick freezing machine, or the like.

It will be apparent to a skilled person that in connection with thearrangement shown in FIG. 1 as well as the arrangement shown in FIG. 2the two conveyor belts may be moved in different directions as well asin the same direction and that further the two belts may be arranged inangled form, i.e. forming an angle different from 0° in relation to eachother. Similarly, it will be understood that the items 2 may be fed bymeans of two or more conveyor belts or similar transport means insteadof a single conveyor belt 4. It will also be understood that the itemscan be transported further on by means of two or more conveyor belts orsimilar transport means instead of a single conveyor belt 10.

It is apparent that the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 may also be providedwith an arrangement for re-circulating items that have not been grippedwhen they cross the end of the operative area 8. Such an arrangement 46is illustrated in a schematic manner only in FIG. 2.

As mentioned above, the individual items are gripped, caught or the likeby means of gripping means that may be designed in various manners, assuctions means, pinching means, grasping means, etc., but in accordancewith the invention a plurality of these gripping means are used fortransferring the items.

One or more of these gripping means may be placed on or at a common unitreferred to as a gripping carrier, and furthermore the system accordingto embodiments of the invention may comprise one or more of suchgripping carriers, which is illustrated in FIG. 3. This figurecorresponds to FIG. 1, but further a gripping machinery 14 according tothe invention is illustrated, which gripping machinery 14 is adapted foroperating within the abovementioned operative area 8. In the shownexample the gripping machinery comprises two gripping carriers 16 a and16 b, each one being equipped with two gripping means 18 asschematically shown, which gripping means 18 as mentioned and asindicated each may grip an item 2. The carrier means 16 a and 16 b maybe arranged to be linearly movable in relation to the gripping machinery14, for example in the transverse direction of the conveyor belts 2 and10, but they may also be arranged to be movable in other manners.Preferably, the two carrier means will be designed and controlled insuch a manner that they are independently movably, for example inconsideration of the items 2 available for picking at the area 4′ andthe location of these items. Furthermore, each of the gripping means 18on each of the gripping carriers 16 a or 16 b may be arranged to beactivated individually, for example when contacting an item (or viceversa), in which case for example suction may be established to withholdthe item, when gripping means of the suction type is used.

As characterized in the claims, at least two gripping means 18 areinvolved in the method and the system according to the invention.However, these at least two gripping means 18 may be provided in variousforms and configurations. For example, as mentioned above, a grippingmachinery 14 may comprise a single carrier means 16 a or 16 b only (inwhich case this will have two or more gripping means), but more than twocarrier means may also be involved, for example three, four etc.Furthermore, it is noted that each gripping carrier 16 a or 16 b may bedesigned with a single gripping means 18 only, but that two may bearranged as shown in FIG. 3 or even more, for example three, four etc.on or at each gripping carrier.

It is apparent that the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 may also be providedwith an arrangement for re-circulating items that have not been grippedwhen they cross the end of the operative area 8. Such an arrangement 46is illustrated in a schematic manner only in FIG. 3. Furthermore, thesame will apply for the embodiment, which will be described in furtherdetail below with reference to FIG. 4.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 4, whichshows an arrangement corresponding to the arrangement shown in FIG. 2.In FIG. 4, however, the gripping machinery is designed in such a mannerthat a number of gripping carriers, of which three are shown, i.e. 16a-16 c, can be moved in a circular form or a similar form as shown withthe arrow. These gripping carriers 16 a-16 c may be designed incorrespondence with what has been described above and as it can be seenthe operative area 8 can be covered with such an arrangement. Possibly,the gripping carriers 16 a-16 c may be arranged in such a manner thatthey will also be movable in relation to the circular form, for exampleradially movable and/or turnable, whereby the items can be grippedand/or released selectively with great precision, e.g. as regardsposition and possibly orientation, efficiency and/or speediness.

As is the case for the other embodiments, the embodiment shown in FIG. 4may comprise two or more gripping means 18, which may be carried bycarriers 16, e.g. one carrier 16 having two gripping means 18, twocarriers each having one gripping means etc. As for the otherembodiments, the number of gripping means and/or number of carriers arespecified in view of the desired capacity, the item feeding speed orother specific parameters, whereby the specific needs can be met withoutincreasing the operative speed of the individual gripping means.

As mentioned above, the gripping means 18 may use various means forgripping the items, but when suction means are used, the suction effectmay for example be achieved using an external vacuum source such as asuction pump, from which vacuum is led to the individual gripping meansusing e.g. tubes and/or pipe connections.

According to a specific advantageous embodiment of the invention thesuction effect is achieved by locally providing the necessary suctioneffect, for example at each of the gripping means or carrier means.Hereby, tubes and pipe connections are avoided and it will not benecessary to provide e.g. valve control or the like in order to controlthe suction effect.

As shown in FIG. 5 a, which shows a gripping carrier 16 seen from theside and in schematic form, such a gripping carrier 16 may comprise anumber of gripping means 18, for example four as shown, that may bedesigned or controlled to selectively or simultaneously provide asuction effect, by means of which an item can be held to an opening 20in the gripping means 18. As mentioned above, this may be accomplishedby use of an external vacuum source, but as shown in FIGS. 5 b, 5 c and5 d, which show a gripping carrier 16 corresponding to the grippingcarrier shown in FIG. 5 a, this may also take place using a suctioneffect that is created locally, preferably on or at the grippingcarrier. This may for example be effected when the gripping meanscomprise a cavity with a variable volume.

In FIG. 5 b the gripping means 18 are shown each with a piston 22, whichcan be moved by means of a connecting rod 24 or the like, whereby thepiston can be moved in the cavity in the gripping means. The pistons 22can be moved simultaneously, for example in case they are mechanicallyconnected, or they may be moved individually, e.g. not necessarily incomplete synchronism and not necessarily with the same end positions,e.g. the same upper position. When an item contacts a gripping means 18,the piston can be moved from a lower position to an upper position,whereby a vacuum is created to hold the item. The piston can be moved toan upper position or it can be controlled to be moved to a position,where a vacuum has been created which suffices to withhold the item.

As shown in FIGS. 5 a and 5 b, the opening 20 of the suction grippingmeans 18 may be provided with means for enhancing the connection betweenan item and the gripping means 18, when suction is provided, for examplein the form of a ring-shaped member, but further, the opening 20 may beprovided with a certain degree of flexibility, e.g. using a member madefrom a flexible material such as rubber or the like. Even further, thepart of the gripping means 18 may be shaped in order to provideflexibility, for example as shown in FIG. 5 c, where the opening is inthe form of a bellow 20′, that also provides the advantage that surfaceirregularities on an engaged item will be compensated for. Further, whentwo or more gripping means 18 are used together as shown in FIGS. 5 a-5d, differences in thickness between items—or differences in the heightof the contacted surfaces, for example when items are overlapping eachother—will be compensated for with such an arrangement.

As shown in FIG. 5 d, the gripping means 18 as such may also be designedas bellows or similar means for providing the suction effect. Forexample, a gripping means 18 may, when it is not holding an item, be ina state as shown at 18′. When an item is contacted, the bellow isstretched, for example by means of a spring force or other mechanicalmeans, whereby a vacuum is produced for engaging and holding the item.According to a preferable embodiment, though, the bellow is in itsextended shape, before an item is contacted. When an item is contactedby the opening 20, the gripping carrier 16 is moved further downwards,while air is allowed to escape from inside the bellow, for example viae.g. a one-way valve or the like (not shown in FIG. 5 d). When thebellow has been compressed a suitable amount, the gripping carrier 16 islifted upwards and the bellow will be extended, e.g. due to the urge tomove back to the rest state, and an initial vacuum will be created,which serves to withhold the item. Since the weight of the item willstretch the bellow further, a vacuum will be created which will serve togrip the item securely. When the item has been transferred to thedestined position, the vacuum is released, for example by opening avalve or the like, whereby the item will be released.

Other manners of providing a vacuum effect locally are possible, whichwill be apparent to a skilled person.

An example of a design of a device according to a further embodiment ofthe invention is shown in FIG. 6 in a perspective view and with certainparts shown in a sectional view. Here, a conveyor belt 4 is shown, bymeans of which the items 2 are delivered to the device. It is noted thatthe items 2 may be delivered in an un-orderly form and not necessarilyin the form indicated in FIG. 8, where for the sake of clarity the items2 are shown being delivered not overlapping each other and withessentially the same orientation. The items are transferred to theconveyor belt 10 by means of a gripping carrier 16 and a carriage 34. Asshown the conveyor belts 4 and 10 may be moved in separate directions,but it is apparent that they may be moved in the same direction and thatthey further may form an angle in relation to each other as alsomentioned above. The gripping carrier 16 according to the shownembodiment comprises three gripping means 18, which are actuatedsimultaneously. The three pistons 22, which are movable in cylinderparts 19, are connected by means of piston rods 31 and possibly viaspring elements to a shared piston control mechanism 30. This sharedpiston control mechanism 30 serves to move the pistons 22 in thevertical direction in relation to the frame part 17 of the device 16.The cylinder parts 19 are also connected to and carried by a sharedbracket 32, which is connected to the frame part 17 via two rods 33,corresponding actuators 38 and possibly spring elements, the function ofwhich will be described later on. Thus, the cylinder parts 19 can alsobe moved up and down in relation to the frame 17. Thus, it will beunderstood that the cylinder parts 19 and the pistons 22 areindependently movable in relation to the frame 17, the cylinder parts 19controlled by the rods 33 and the actuators 38 and the pistons 22controlled by the shared piston control mechanism 30.

It is obvious that more or less than three gripping means 18 may becomprised in or at such a gripping carrier 16.

Further, in FIG. 6 a carriage 34 is shown, which is laterally movableand which cooperates with a scraper device 36 comprising a number ofscrapers 37, as it will be explained below.

The function of the device shown in FIG. 6 will now be described infurther detail with additional reference to FIGS. 7 a-7 h, whichillustrate the sequential steps of the device. For the sake of clarity,only few parts are indicated with reference numbers in FIGS. 9 a-9 h,which as regards the construction of the device correspond essentiallyidentically to the detailed FIG. 6.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 a, the gripping means 18 can be moved downtowards the items 2 controlled by the shared piston control mechanism 30and the shared bracket 32, which both are pushed downwards in relationto the frame 17. Thus, the pistons 22 will be at the bottom of thecylinder parts 19 (cf. FIG. 6) and the cylinder parts 19 will contactthe items 2.

When as illustrated in FIG. 7 b the shared piston control mechanism 30is being moved upwards, while the cylinder parts 19 controlled by theshared bracket 32 are kept in contact with the items 2, vacuum iscreated to withhold the items. The pistons 22 are moved upward to aposition, possibly an upper limit position, where the vacuum issufficient to lift the items 2.

Now, as shown in FIG. 7 c, the pistons 22 as well as the cylinder parts19 are lifted by means of the shared piston control mechanism 30 and theshared bracket 32, respectively, meaning that the gripping means 18holding the engaged items are lifted upwards.

As shown in FIG. 7 d, the carriage 34 has now been slid under the itemsengaged by the gripping means 18, and as shown in FIG. 7 e the sharedpiston control mechanism 30 is moved downwards in relation to thecylinder parts 19, whereby the items are released onto the carriage 34.

The carriage 34 is now returned as shown in FIG. 7 f, where it is shownthat the scrapers 37 of the scraper device 36 engage the items on thecarriage 34. When the carriage 34 continues its return movement as shownin FIG. 7 g, the scrapers 37 will cause the items to be pushed down fromthe carriage 34 and onto the conveyor belt 10, for example in the order,in which they were placed on the carriage 34. This is shown in FIG. 7 h,and it is also shown the pistons 22 and the cylinder parts 19,controlled by the shared piston control mechanism 30 and the sharedbracket 32, respectively, have not been moved during the return movementof the carriage 34. The pistons 22 are thus situated at the bottom ofthe cylinder parts 19, ready to be moved downwards simultaneously, thusreaching the step illustrated in FIG. 7 a, where after the cycle isrepeated.

As indicated in FIGS. 7 a-7 h, the carriage 34 may be moving in anessentially continuous cycle, e.g. moving continuously, apart from theend positions, but it is apparent that the carriage may be moving insteps with pauses between (some of) the steps. The same will apply forthe other moving parts shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, flexible and/or spring elements may be arrangedbetween the individual mechanical parts of this gripping device, forexample between the pistons 22 and the piston rods 31 and further at thesuspension of the bracket 32, e.g. between the bracket 32 and the rods33. Hereby, an improved contact with the individual items is achievedwhile simultaneously ensuring that the items are not subjected to anunacceptable force or impact, for example in case one item is thickerthan the others or in case an item is overlapping another. It will beunderstood that the individual gripping means 18 also can be arrangedwith a mutual flexibility, thus achieving that items with varyingthickness can be handled. Further, it is noted that the embodiment ofthe gripping carrier 16 shown in FIG. 6 may be used without a carriage34 or another corresponding item transport means when the grippingcarrier 16 is designed in such a manner that it can be moved laterallybefore the items 2 are released. Furthermore, the gripping carrier 16may comprise a plurality of separate gripping means 18 or groups ofgripping means 18.

Furthermore, it will be apparent to a skilled person that the embodimentshown in FIGS. 6 and 7 a-7 h may be provided with means for enhancingthe contact between an item and a gripping means 18, for exampleflexible members, bellows or the like as described above in connectionwith FIGS. 5 a-5 c.

Various other manners of designing the gripping device are possiblewithin the scope of the claims, which will be apparent to a skilledperson within the field.

It will be understood that an arrangement as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 a-7h may be used in connection with the systems shown in e.g. FIGS. 1 and2, where items 2 are delivered by the conveyor 4, transferred to theconveyor 10, where they are arranged in an orderly flow. Thus, it willbe understood that an arrangement essentially as shown in FIG. 6 isplaced in the system corresponding to the operative area 8 shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. For example, an arrangement as shown in FIG. 6 mayreadily be used for the system shown in FIG. 1, cf. also FIGS. 7 a-7 h.Furthermore, it will be understood that two or more of the arrangementsshown in FIG. 6 may be used in connection with the system shown in FIG.1, for example placed next to each other in the longitudinal directionof the conveyors, whereby the total item transfer speed can be increasedwithout increasing the speed of the individual transfer arrangements.

It will also be understood that the transfer arrangement as shown inFIG. 6 can be adapted for delivering the items in two or more rows andcan thus be used in connection with a system as shown in FIG. 2. Forexample, the carriage 34 may be provided with an increased length,whereby the items may be located selectively on the carriage 34 not onlyas regards the lateral position, but also as regards the position in thelongitudinal direction of the carriage. It is apparent that thisrequires a longer stroke of the carriage 34. Further, a modifiedarrangement of the scrapers 37 is also required, where the individualscrapers are placed in positions, corresponding to the positions, inwhich it is desired to transfer the items to the conveyor 10.

When using a method and a system as described above, it is apparent thatthe conveyor belt 10 is advanced with a speed corresponding to the itemdelivery speed of the transfer device, e.g. whereby the conveyor belt 10has moved a distance corresponding to three items placed in an orderlyform each time an operative cycle has been performed by the transferarrangement as shown in FIG. 6.

Also, the items can readily be delivered in a plurality of rows using atransfer arrangement as shown in FIG. 6, when the conveyor belt 10 inthe system shown in FIG. 2 is arranged to move in a directionessentially perpendicular to the direction of the feeding conveyor 4,e.g. in the downward direction in FIG. 2. It will thus be seen that atransfer arrangement as shown in FIG. 6 located at the operative area 8will deliver the items in three parallel rows on the conveyor 10. Afurther transfer arrangement as shown in FIG. 6 placed next to the firstone will result in six rows of items being delivered in an orderly formto the conveyor 10, etc., whereby again the total item transfer speedcan be increased without increasing the speed of the individual transferarrangements. It is noted that a transfer arrangement as shown in FIG. 6may be designed with another number of gripping means than the threeshown in FIG. 6 and a corresponding number of positions on the carriage34, whereby items instead can be delivered in e.g. two, four, five rowsetc. and a multiple hereof, which will be apparent to a skilled person.

Further configurations will be possible, which will be apparent to theskilled person.

In order to further illustrate the various options for arranging thetransfer of the items in accordance with the invention, FIGS. 8 a-8 dshow in side views various configurations of certain elements of atransfer device in accordance with the invention.

Thus, FIG. 8 a shows in a schematic and general manner a section of afeeding conveyor 4 and a section of an outlet conveyor 10. A grippingmeans 18 is shown seen from the side, placed above an item 2, which islocated on the feeding conveyor 4. As indicated with arrows a and b, thegripping means 18 is designed in such a manner that it can be moved downtowards the item 2 in order to engage it and upwards again. Further, itcan be moved laterally in order to release the item on the outletconveyor 10. It will be understood, though, that the gripping means 18need not move rectilinearly as strictly indicated by the arrows, but mayfollow e.g. curved routes.

As also explained above, the number of gripping means 18 will be atleast two, and where a plurality of gripping means are used, the totalitem transfer speed can be increased without increasing the speed ofe.g. the individual gripping means. Thus, the specific needs, e.g. theitem delivery speed, capacity etc. can be served using a number ofgripping means 18, which is determined in view of the particularcircumstances and without e.g. trying to adapt the individual grippingmeans in order to increase the individual working capacity and speed.Similar applies for the embodiments, which will be described in thefollowing with reference to FIGS. 8 b-8 d.

In FIG. 8 b a corresponding arrangement is shown, but here the grippingmeans 18 is adapted for being located in an essentially fixed horizontallevel. Instead, the conveyor 4 is able to move vertically as indicatedby the arrow a′, whereby an item can be engaged by the gripping means18. When an item has been engaged, the gripping means 18 can be moved inthe horizontal direction as indicated by the arrow b in order to releasethe item above or on the conveyor 10.

A further embodiment is shown in FIG. 8 c, where a carriage 34 is usedas well. As indicated, an item can be engaged by the gripping means 18when this is moved down towards the conveyor 4 or possibly when theconveyor 4 is moved upwards. When an item has been engaged, the carriagecan be moved as indicated by the arrow b′ to a position underneath theitem engaged by the gripping means 18 and the item is released,preferably in a predetermined position on the carriage 34. The carriage34 is moved towards the conveyor 10, where the item is placed inaccordance with the order, in which items are conveyed on the conveyor10. It will be understood that the carriage 34 may transfer one item ata time or it may transfer more items simultaneously, for example if thegripping means 18 is part of a group of gripping means. Further, it willbe understood that the item or items may be transferred from thecarriage 34 to the conveyor 10 by means of a scraper as explained abovein connection with FIG. 6, by having the carriage or part hereof tilt orin any other suitable manner.

A still further example is shown in FIG. 8 d, also comprising a carriage34. However, this carriage 34 is not movable. The gripping means 18 andthe conveyor 4 may be arranged as explained above in connection withFIG. 8 c, e.g. either one may be movable in the vertical direction inorder to engage items. When an item has been engaged by the grippingmeans 18, it is moved in the horizontal direction to a position abovethe carriage, where the item is released, for example in a predeterminedposition. From the carriage an item or a plurality of items can betransferred to the conveyor 10, e.g. one at a time or two or moresimultaneously, in such a manner that the desired order is achieved onthe conveyor 10. The items may be transferred from the carriage by meansof a scraper, by means of tilting, for example by selectively tiltingcertain parts of the carriage etc.

It will be understood that other configurations are possible. It willalso be understood that other means than conveyor belts may be used asfeeding and outlet means. Also, it will be understood that the items maybe delivered to a static support, from which the items are gripped,instead of a conveyor belt. Furthermore, it is noted that a number ofgripping means 18 may be operating simultaneously, independent ordependent on each other. Further, groups of gripping means 18 may beused, operating in a fixed relationship, for example mechanicallyconnected to each other.

Further details of the invention will be explained with reference toFIGS. 9 and 10, where a lower part of a gripping means 18 using vacuumeffect is shown in a sectional view according to further expedientembodiments, where a piston is used for producing the necessary vacuumfor lifting an item. In FIG. 9 the gripping means 18 is shown with aninternal cylindrical cavity, the lower part of which forms an abuttingsurface for the items. It is further shown that the piston in its lowerposition 22′ possibly may be abutting the item or the piston may, if itis desired, be located with distance to the item. As it will be seen,this embodiment provides the advantage of facilitating an efficientcleaning of the gripping means and its inner parts, which is essentialin connection with the handling of food items or the like. The piston 22may possibly be removed in a simple manner when cleaning the grippingmeans.

In FIG. 10 a similar design of the lower part of a gripping means 18 isshown. However, at the lower part a mouthpiece 40 is placed, which hasan abutting part 42, which in a well-defined manner can contact the itemand provide an efficient sealing in order to maintain the vacuum againstthe item. In order to facilitate the option of effecting an efficientcleaning this mouthpiece 42 is designed as a removable part, whereby theinner cavity can be cleaned as explained above, and whereby the piston22 possibly can be removed when cleaning the gripping means. Themouthpiece 42 may be connected to the cylinder part itself by means of athreaded connection, by means of a bayonet catch or by othercorresponding means, which will be apparent to a skilled person.

Further embodiments of the layout of the transport means including e.g.feeding and outlet conveyors in accordance with the invention will nowbe described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

As for the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4, the items 2 are fed by meansof the conveyor belt 4, but as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the items arefed, e.g. dropped or pushed onto a rotating, circulating, looping or thelike conveyor 48, for example a ring-shaped conveyor belt, a turntable,a carousel or similar means. From here, the items are gripped andtransferred essentially in accordance with the principles and theembodiments explained above, to the conveyor belt 10, e.g. using aplurality of gripping means 18 that selectively can place the items 2 onthe conveyor belt 10 and which are effective within an operative area 8.However, in contrast to the former embodiments, no re-circulating meansare necessary, since the items can remain on the conveyor 48 forsubsequent gripping. Thus, the conveyor 48 may serve as a bufferarrangement. Furthermore, a larger operative area can be achieved, whichin particular will be seen in FIG. 12, where the curved part 10′ of theconveyor belt 10 may extend along the outer (or inner) periphery of theconveyor 48 in order to achieve a suitable or desired operative area 8.As shown in FIG. 12, the operative area 8 may comprise two (or more)separate areas, divided by the inlet conveyor, but it is apparent thatthese areas may be joined together.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to theparticular examples described above and shown in the drawings, but maybe modified in numerous manners within the scope of the invention asspecified in the claims.

1-45. (canceled)
 46. A method of transferring items from a first areawhere said items are provided in an un-orderly form to a second areafrom which said items are transferred in an orderly flow of items, saidmethod comprising the step of using a plurality of gripping means fortransferring said items, said transferring including the steps of:moving at least one of said plurality of gripping means toward at leastpart of said first area or moving said at least part of said first areatoward said at least one of said plurality of gripping means; engagingat least one of said items among said items provided in an un-orderlyform at said first area using said at least one of said plurality ofgripping means; moving said at least one item away from said first areaor moving said first area away from said at least one item; and placingsaid at least one item at a selected position of said second area,wherein said at least one item is moved away from said second area in anorderly flow with at least one additional item handled by another one ofsaid plurality of gripping means, and wherein a plurality of grippingcarriers are used for transferring said items, each one of saidplurality of gripping carriers carrying at least one of said pluralityof gripping means, said plurality of gripping carriers being controlledin such a manner that they are independently movable.
 47. The methodaccording to claim 46, wherein said at least one item is released and/orplaced at a selected position at said second area.
 48. The methodaccording to claim 47, wherein said step of releasing and/or placingsaid at least one item at a selected position comprises locating said atleast one item: at a position selected among a number of predeterminedpositions, or at a position selected in relation to already locateditems and/or in relation to positions of other items being transferred.49. The method according to claim 48, wherein said plurality of grippingmeans are adapted for, individually or in combination, controllablylocating items at a predefined area constituting said second area. 50.The method according to claim 48, wherein said at least one of saidplurality of gripping means is moved toward said first area or saidfirst area is moved toward said at least one of said plurality ofgripping means, and wherein said at least one of said gripping means isadapted for engaging said at least one item located within a predefinedarea comprised in said first area.
 51. The method according to claim 50,wherein said items are delivered to said first area by transport means,and wherein said items are moving at said first area, and furtherwherein an item that is not engaged by one of said plurality of grippingmeans when passing said first area is returned to said transport meansthat delivers items to said first area.
 52. The method according toclaim 51, wherein The items that are delivered to said second area aretransported further on by transport means, and wherein said itemsdelivered to said second area are delivered directly to said transportmeans for further transport.
 53. The method according to claim 46,wherein said at least one of said plurality of gripping means is movedtoward said first area or said first area is moved toward said at leastone of said plurality of gripping means, and wherein said at least oneof said gripping means is adapted for engaging said at least one itemlocated within a predefined area comprised in said first area.
 54. Themethod according to claim 46, wherein said items are delivered to saidfirst area by transport means, and wherein said items are moving at saidfirst area, and further wherein an item that is not engaged by one ofsaid plurality of gripping means when passing said first area isreturned to said transport means that delivers items to said first area.55. The method according to claim 46, wherein The items that aredelivered to said second area are transported further on by transportmeans, and wherein said items delivered to said second area aredelivered directly to said transport means for further transport.
 56. Asystem for transferring items from a first area where said items areprovided in an un-orderly form to a second area, said system beingadapted for transferring an orderly flow of items from said second area,said system comprising a plurality of gripping means adapted fortransferring said items; first location means for supporting said items,wherein said items are provided in an un-orderly form at said firstarea; and second location means for supporting said items at said secondarea, wherein said system is adapted for: moving at least one of saidplurality of gripping means towards at least part of said first area ormoving said at least part of said first area toward said at least one ofsaid plurality of gripping means, engaging at least one of said itemsamong said items provided in an un-orderly form at said first area bysaid at least one of said plurality of gripping means, moving said atleast one of said items away from said first area, or moving said firstarea away from said at least one of said items, and placing said atleast one of said items at a selected position of said second area,wherein said at least one of said items is moved away from said secondarea in an orderly flow with at least one additional of said itemsengaged by another one of said plurality of gripping means; wherein saidsystem further comprises a plurality of gripping carriers each one ofwhich carries at least one of said plurality of gripping means, saidplurality of gripping carriers being independently controllable.
 57. Thesystem according to claim 56, wherein said plurality of gripping meansare adapted for, individually or in combination, controllably locatingitems at a predefined area constituting said second area at said secondlocation means.
 58. The system according to claim 57, wherein saidpredefined area at said first location means constitutes said firstarea, and wherein said at least one of said plurality of gripping meansis adapted for engaging said at least one item located within saidpredefined area at said first location means.
 59. The system accordingto claim 58, wherein said plurality of gripping means each comprisesuction means for engaging and holding said items.
 60. System accordingto claim 58, wherein said plurality of gripping means are each adaptedfor engaging and holding said items by mechanical means.
 61. The systemaccording to claim 58, wherein said first location means form part ofinlet transport means for delivering items to said first area with saiditems being moved at said first area.
 62. The system according to claim56, wherein said first location means comprises transport means formingpart of a transport loop, said transport means including a continuousconveyor belt, a circular conveyor belt, a rotating conveyor, and/or aturntable.
 63. The system according to claim 56, wherein said pluralityof gripping means each comprise suction means for engaging and holdingsaid items.
 64. The system according to claim 56, wherein said pluralityof gripping means are each adapted for engaging and holding said itemsby mechanical means including mechanical lifting, mechanical gripping,and/or mechanical pinching.
 65. The system according to claim 56,wherein said first location means form part of inlet transport means fordelivering items to said first area with said items being moved at saidfirst area.